Still A Classic By Jill Williams Dual classic winner. The very mention of such an accomplished horse conjures up images of class and majesty. It's not often one compares a dual classic winner to an unruly toddler, grinning through a face covered in food, but the 28-year- old Little Current is not your average horse. "He gets so excited about his bran mash," said Dr. Ann Hansen, who co-owns Little Current with her husband, Mark. "He gets it all over his head, ears, and forelock." The Hansens keep Little Current on their Maverick Farm near Monroe, Wash. "He just has a tremendous amount of personality," continued Hansen. "He has a really intelligent eye and you can tell there are wheels turning in his head when he looks at you. He's mischievous, not just like a horse, but more like a dog. You have to be on your toes so you don't get clobbered." Little Current, still roguish at 28, holds the distinction of being the oldest living classic winner. A Triple Crown campaign in the spring of 1974 propelled him to victories in both the Preakness (gr. I) and Belmont (gr. I) Stakes. Like Charismatic, the colt attempting to sweep this year's Triple Crown, Little Current's lack of achievements before the Triple Crown left few believers in spite of the right connections. The colt was a homebred for John Galbreath's Darby Dan Farm, whose previous record in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) was perfect; Chateaugay and Proud Clarion had each won their respective attempts for the farm. In addition, Little Current's dam, Luiana, was a half-sister to Chateaugay while his sire was Sea-Bird, considered one of the greatest European Thoroughbreds of the century. Little Current failed to capture the rough-and-tumble, 23-horse field in the Run for the Roses, finishing fifth at 22-1, but parlayed his patented closing kick to victory in the Preakness at 13-1. His seven-length triumph equaled what was then the third-fastest time in the race's history. A seven-length encore in the Belmont led him to eventual champion 3-year-old male honors. Little Current failed to win after the Belmont, and after discovery of a bone chip, he was sent to the breeding shed in the fall of 1974. He retired to Darby Dan near Lexington, with a record of four wins from 16 starts and earnings of $354,704, and was syndicated for $100,000 a share, or $4 million. In nearly 25 years since his retirement, Little Current has sired 35 stakes winners. Eventually, he was relocated from Darby Dan to Doug Arnold's Arnold Farm near Lexington, and later to George Oechsner's Good Guys Farm near New Orleans, La. All the while, the Hansens remained Little Current fans, making trips to visit him in both Kentucky and Louisiana. The couple was able to purchase him for an undisclosed amount about four years ago. Hansen's husband hotwalked for Woody Stephens before becoming a large animal veterinarian. Hansen herself was a native of New York who diverted her lifelong interest in horse racing into a career as an equine veterinarian, board certified in surgery. The two met, married in 1988, and eventually settled near Monroe, where they established veterinary practices and their Maverick Farm. The Hansens have bred and raced Little Current's offspring, even before they owned the stallion. Although he is "happy, healthy, and kicking," he has been pensioned as a stallion, with his last crop consisting of two 2-year-olds of 1999. To the Hansens, he is their pet. "One of the most exciting things for me in getting the horse was he revived that childhood dream of what the horse is all about," said Hansen. "As a vet, you become much more clinical and see them in a totally different light. With Little Current, all that magic was back." •